The Month That Was: Hunter’s Highlight Weekend, #Belted, Dig-Me Sessions, #RallyZito and More

The theme for the next 4,155 words: Better late than never. It applies to Brandon Belt’s swing changes. It applies to the Hunter Pence deal that was signed hours before the final out of the season. It applies to this entire post, really. Yeah, yeah, we’re long past August and September, but blog tradition is blog tradition, so here – belatedly – is The Month That Was. Pull your socks up, these are the stats, quotes, GIFs, photos, facts, etc. that stood out from the season’s final 56 games. Better late than never!

1. Sprint to the Finish: The Giants were 20-14 after Aug. 24, the third best mark in the National League. They were 16-11 in September, posting their best winning percentage (.593) of a losing season. The finishing run secured the season series with the Diamondbacks (12-7), Dodgers (11-8), Padres (11-8) and Rockies (10-9). According to the Giants PR staff, they haven’t lost a season series within the division since dropping 12 of 18 to the Padres in 2010.

2. The Hunter Games: On the field, off the field, at the bank … the month of September belonged to Hunter Pence. He was a dominant storyline throughout, but it really peaked during the season’s final weekend. On the final Friday, Pence won the prestigious Willie Mac Award and hinted that a new deal could be close. On Saturday morning, he agreed to a five-year, $90 million contract. On Sunday, he became the first San Francisco Giant to start all 162 games and ended Game 162 with a walk-off single, his first as a Giant and the club’s 12th of the season. On Monday, he was named National League Player of the Month.

Oh, in September he also released a great spoof video for the “Hunter’s Hitters” camp. “It gets better with every viewing,” Pence said, smiling.

3. The Scooter Fund: Pence approached the Giants after the 2012 season, hopeful that he could sign a long-term deal. For him, it turned out to be a blessing that the organization waited. The right fielder had one of the great September contract drives in recent memory, hitting 11 homers, driving in 32 runs (it didn’t hurt that many of them were against the Dodgers), scoring 23 runs and drawing 16 walks. The charge helped secure the long-term deal that was bigger than anyone could have imagined last offseason.

“I understand the responsibility that comes with five years,” Pence said. “It’s a pretty big investment. It’s not going to be taken lightly. I’m extra motivated. Don’t think there’s going to be any part of me that’s going to be stagnant. I want to become a better ballplayer.”
He’s a richer ballplayer, at the very least. But Pence didn’t have any big plans shortly after signing the deal. “I might add some speakers to my scooter,” he said. “That’s what I’m considering.”

4. Pence Praise: Also known as the section that Pence should cut and save and show to his kids one day. A collection of quotes from others in the organization, from before and after the big deal:

“That’s a guy you know is always going to bring it. That’s a guy you want on your side.” – Matt Cain.

“He’s been truly a model for the way you conduct yourself on the field and also the way he conducted himself off the field. When you sign a deal of this length, you want to check that box off. Hunter does that as well as anybody.” – Larry Baer.

“That’s pretty cool if you like $90 million. The guy plays every day and he’s one of the best outfielders in baseball. I hope he’s here the rest of his career.” – Madison Bumgarner.

“It’s just hard not to feed off his energy. He comes in here with a positive mindset every day and that’s a choice. That’s easy to feed off of.” – Tim Lincecum.

“The game can be 20-0 in the ninth and he still thinks he can win. He injects that type of energy into the club and that’s a big key for us to be successful.” – Angel Pagan.

“It’s hard not to be a huge fan of Hunter. He gives 100 percent from the time he gets here to the time he leaves. He’s probably the hardest worker I’ve ever seen.” – Buster Posey.

“He’s a manager’s dream. The best compliment I could him is that if I had a kid and he came out to see a game, I’d tell him to watch Hunter. I’ll be honest, I may not have him watch Hunter throw or his on-deck swing. Just the way he plays the game.” – Bruce Bochy.

5. #Belted: This post is about 56 games, a small fraction of any player’s career. But for Brandon Belt, this was a career-altering sample size. If September was all about Pence, August was all about the other guy rocking high socks, the first baseman who started the month on the bench. As the story goes, Belt met with Domonic Brown and discussed swing changes that the coaching staff had been pushing for a while. While Belt adjusted, Brett Pill was the one starting at first base.

“We’re having trouble scoring runs, so it’s hard to take Brett out,” Bochy said. “That’s just the reality.”

By the end of the month, the Giants had a new reality: They might have found a long-term No. 3 hitter. Belt was fifth in the National League with a 1.051 OPS in August, and he had seven doubles, five homers and three triples. Tampa Bay’s outstanding young right-hander, Chris Archer, gave the first hint that Belt was tapping into all of his natural ability.

“Everything I threw, Belt saw,” Archer said after Belt had three hits in a Giants win on August 2. “I threw him some good sliders that he took. Fastball down, he crushed it. Fastball first pitch, he went the other way for a base hit. So I figured I’m going to try a changeup, you know? Mix it up. But he saw that well, too.”

The hot streak didn’t end when the calendar turned. Belt hit .341 in September with 10 doubles and 15 RBIs. Only Andrew McCutchen and Matt Holiday hit for a higher average than Belt (.346) after August 1.

6. #Belted, Part II: There’s a belief by many that Belt turned it on after the pressure was off, but you don’t end up with a .289/.360/.481 line by simply turning in a hot third of the season. Belt was solid before he broke through, and finished fourth among NL first basemen in OPS (.841). The only three ahead of him: Paul Goldschmidt, Joey Votto and Freddie Freeman.

7. Belt Burn: Those Dodgers fans just wouldn’t let the 25-year-old first baseman forget about a harmless “chemistry” quip he made during FanFest; Belt even stayed off Twitter for a while because there was so much vitriol headed his way. The heckling is still out there, but Belt volleyed it back nicely, wrapping up Tweet of the Season (or offseason) honors just after Game 162.

8. Not Many Sunflower Seeds: Whether it was fatigue, injuries (including a fractured finger), an extended slump or something else, Posey just wasn’t himself over the season’s final two months. He slugged .318 in August and .315 in September. Near the end of the season, the MVP (for another couple of weeks) conceded that he wasn’t near full strength, saying his offseason would be spent on “strength training to where I feel good all year (in 2014).”

9. Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World: Bumgarner wore down a bit at the end of the 2012 season, but he had no issues this time around. The lefty had a 1.80 ERA in four September starts and held opposing hitters to a .202 average while striking out 31 in 25 innings.

Much of the talk this postseason has been about young pitching, and Bumgarner still fits into that conversation. He’ll be 24 when he takes the mound next April (maybe on opening day), and will enter the 2014 season one win shy of 50. He should be ready to go, too; the Giants smartly held Bumgarner to 201 1/3 innings. Through three full seasons and parts of two others, Bumgarner has a 3.08 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. And he’s not satisfied …

“There is definitely a lot more stuff that I can continue to do to get better,” he said.

10. Quotes of the Month(s):

“They’re about to get back to me. We’re either really close or really far away. I’ll know shortly. We’re talking, I guess.” Pence, on his clubhouse discussion with Baer (turns out they were really close).

“Hey, that was on me last night. I forgot to sit in his seat …” Belt, the day after Yusmeiro Petit came one out away from a perfect game.

“As crazy as this sounds, if I had to do it over again, I would have done what we did to sign Barry Zito. I think we’ve learned a lot from his time here and our pitching staff has. Quite frankly, when we needed him the most he helped us win the World Series. I find great satisfaction and solace in that.” Brian Sabean, during his end-of-season press conference.

“It felt good. It’s hard not to do something you love, you know? I missed it.” Ryan Vogelsong, after his first start back.

“When the ball falls your way, it’s falling your way. And when it’s not, it’s not. If it was Candy Land every year and you won the World Series every year, who would want to watch that? These situations make you stronger.” Pence, after getting robbed by Denard Span.

“Did you just drop some knowledge on them?” Pill after Pence’s Candy Land quote. Pence’s response: “I don’t know what I dropped on them, but it wasn’t knowledge. I don’t know where these things come from.”

“No shirt today. Cowboy.” Andres Torres, as he walked out of the clubhouse wearing a cowboy hat and a double-breasted tweed blazer with no shirt underneath.

“I have two goals: To go hard and to love every minute of it. God, you didn’t bless me with grace and very much style. But thank you for giving me heart and a chance.” Pence, during his Willie Mac speech.

“The Naked Cowboy is an iconic figure in Times Square, so we’re paying homage to him.” Javier Lopez, on rookie dress-up day.

“Really, the Rally Zito? That was one of the best days ever last year.” Zito, when told that #RallyZito returned before his final start.

11. Quotes of the Month(s), Part II: The “still occasionally #RockBottomy” section …

“We’re playing like where we’re at. To get this kind of pitching and not get some wins, shame on us.” Bochy, after a tough August loss.

“I’ve said this before: If you talk about having a chance to be a spoiler, that means you’re not very good.” Bochy, in early September with the Giants far out of the race.

“Sometimes it’s like we come in here and sometimes we don’t.” Bumgarner, when asked if some players had checked out.

“You can talk about sabermetrics and on-base percentage and those things but you’ve got to have somebody drive them in. That’s what hurts us. Clutch hitting, that’s what wins ball games for you.” Bochy, as the lineup continued to slump.

“There’s a quote that comes to mind: Things turn out best for those who make the best of what is. This is where we are.” Pence, as the Giants continued to drift.

“We score two early runs and then it’s like we just kind of sit around and wait, like that’s all we need.” Brandon Crawford, after a loss in early August.

12. Quotes of the Month(s), Part III:

“How many rumors are we starting here?” Bochy, while talking about potentially moving Belt to left and Posey to first in the future.

“Have a ‘dig-me session.’ ” Pence to Belt (it worked).

“Just the last inning bit me in the ass. I left that inning out there.” Lincecum, after an A-Rod grand slam ruined his outing at Yankee Stadium.

“I came over to the big city side these last seven, and it’s been a lot. It’s been 95 percent great, and the other five was terrible.” Zito, after his last start for the Giants.

“He said, ‘Thank you, Romo’ and I was like, ‘He knows my name!’ That was one of the coolest parts of the All-Star Game. I got to meet that man and he actually knew my name.” Sergio Romo, on meeting Mariano Rivera at the All-Star Game.

“(Roger) Kieschnick told me he didn’t move for six innings. He wanted to go to the bathroom, but he wasn’t moving. When there are no hits, you don’t mess with it. You try not to smile, blink … you just play hard.” Pence, after Petit’s nearly perfect game.

“When he hit that third one, I said, ‘Well, that brings back a good memory.’ “ Bochy, after Pablo Sandoval’s three-homer game.

“I’m sure it was pretty funny. I hope you all got a good laugh about it. It’s a little funny now. I’m good. I’m sure I’ll watch it tomorrow and laugh my tail off.” Pence, after crashing into the wall in Denver (Bochy later said that the next day was the only time he considered sitting Pence.)

“He’s such a man-child. I asked how he’s doing and he looked at me like, ‘Why are you asking?’ “ Bochy, after Bumgarner got hit by a liner in his last start.

“This is brutal as a player. But it’s epic as a bystander.” Belt, watching the rookies dress up.

“I love every minute with you guys, and I tell you that every day. Buster, I know you don’t like it when I say I love you. You think it’s soft, but I actually think it’s the strongest thing you’ve got.” Pence, during his Willie Mac speech.

13. Quotes of the Month(s), Part IV:

“I’m not asking America to understand. I don’t play games. I handled the situation. It’s over with. It’s squashed.” Dodgers right-hander Brian Wilson, talking to the L.A. Times a couple of days after he confronted Baer.

“A lot of us will be coaching for free with the wives going on that trip.” Bochy, on the seven-day trip to New York.

“I got BABIPed. I BABIPed the heck out of that ball.” Belt, after two loooooong outs at Citi Field.

“Hey, Hector Sanchez, hey! Can you tell Timmy to come over here?” A kid asking for autographs by the Giants dugout.

“The 84, the sneaky fastball.” Zito, after striking out Mark Kotsay in his final appearance as a Giant.

“It’s fair to say that it wasn’t the type of year he was hoping for and we were hoping for.” Bochy, after Torres had season-ending surgery.

“Thank you for having me. I guarantee it was a great day or great night, I don’t know what it was. I bet it was a good night, they made a good one.” Rivera, thanking his parents during a pre-game ceremony at Yankee Stadium.

“I grabbed another bat, and I told Juan Perez, ‘he’s not going to break my home run bat.’“ Ehire Adrianza, on his first and only career matchup with Rivera. Adrianza had homered earlier in the game.

“It’s Yankee Stadium. The lights are bright on Broadway, you know?” Lopez, after strutting off the mound in New York.

“Sabean told me to tattoo that number on my forehead the day I got here and signed. I didn’t quite know what that meant, but then I found out. I found out.” Zito, on his infamous seven-year contract.

14. Quotes of the Month(s), Part V: Looking back and looking ahead …

“I think its pretty simple, we didn’t have enough depth.” Sabean, when asked what went wrong in 2013.

“This year happened to be a tough one with injuries and ups and downs, but that happens to every team. We’re playing pretty good right now and that’s what we’ve got to remember before next season.” Pagan, as the Giants turned it around in late September.

“The first half was not good. The second half was much better.” Cain, when asked to sum up his season.

“This year, I felt like I was more a part of the problem. I want to be a part of the solution.” Jeremy Affeldt, after having surgery.

“I love San Francisco. I love the whole vibe of the city. I love walking down the street and seeing a guy in a tuxedo, two guys holding hands and some girl with tattoos riding a skateboard. I love the eclecticness of the city. But to be honest, it’s going to be sad if I have to leave here (Cincinnati). There will only be one reason why, and that’s the dollar bill.” Bronson Arroyo, to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.

“It’s no secret I love it here. I want to be back and hope they pick it up. If they do, I’m going to be better next year. If they don’t, I’m going to be better next year.” Vogelsong, when asked about the club option in his contract.

“The window with the group at hand has closed. We’ve got to create a new window immediately. That’s the task at hand.” Sabean, during his press conference.

“Hey, I said I’m going to try. The key word there is try.” Belt, when asked if he was really going to go Paleo Like Pence.

“Most decisions people make at this point are personal decisions. I’ve still got to think about it. It’s not a pressing thing for me.” Lincecum, on the potential of signing early, as Pence did. He came to a decision Tuesday.

15. Bullpen Bombs: What’s with relief pitchers and photo/video bombs? Romo has snuck into dozens of live shots over the years and Guillermo Mota dropped a classic photo bomb in the 2012 postseason. This year’s Best Bomb Award goes to right-hander George Kontos, who jumped his way into this photo of the team’s Venezuelan players and coaches.

16. #PandaMode: Ahh, the enigma that is No. 48. After a little teasing by Crawford, who was neck and neck in the home run column, Sandoval hit three homers in a game at Petco Park. But …

The prodigious talent is still there, and Sandoval, who dropped 22 pounds over the summer, promised to be in better shape next season. “It’s important to me to come in next year in the same shape I was in in 2011,” he said. “It’s important for me and my teammates.”

Sandoval is a free agent after the 2014 season. If ever there was a time to put together a career year, this is it.

“It’s up to Pablo – we’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly,” Sabean said. “He’s on the last year of his contract. It’s in his court now. We’ve done everything we could.”

17. Game of Inches: The Giants never had big plans for Petit, who was dropped from the 40-man roster seemingly any time a spot was needed. Yet there he was, coming a few inches away from the franchise’s second perfect game in two seasons. It was one of the highlights of the season, and a day later Petit still couldn’t believe that Eric Chavez spit on a close 2-2 pitch.

“It was a good pitch. I asked Hector: ‘How could he not swing at that pitch?’ Hector said he didn’t know,” Petit said. “He took it like he knew it was coming.”

One of the reasons I love baseball is that it’s just weird. Sometimes, it’s just really, really weird. The Cardinals lost to the Giants 9-0 (in the rain) in the final game of the NLCS last year … this year they beat the Giants’ closest rival 9-0 (in the rain) in the final game of the NLCS. Pence makes a diving catch to save Lincecum’s no-hitter … on pretty much the exact same play, he comes a couple of inches from saving Petit’s perfecto. It’s a weird game, sometimes in cruel ways. For his part, Petit enjoyed his career night, and he had a special moment the next morning, too.

“I called my dad,” he said. “He said that after the sixth inning he couldn’t stop crying.”

18. Crawford Play of the Month(s): The shortstop said his favorite plays of the season were, in some order: The diving extra-innings stop against the Mets, the diving stop that led to a Yadier Molina ejection and the barehand stop of a ball that spun away from him at Coors Field. Here’s another play to add to the reel.

19. Random Rallies: The Giants finished 10th in the National League in runs, right behind the Pirates and just 20 runs behind the Dodgers. It felt worse than that, though, and part of that is probably because this lineup had an odd tendency to follow weeks of dormant play with crazy offensive explosions …

August 16 in Miami: The Giants had 19 hits for the first time in nearly three years, beating the Marlins 14-10. They had four doubles, three triples and a homer, and each of the first five players in the lineup had at least two hits.

September 4 in San Diego: Six of the Giants’ 17 hits were home runs, including three from Sandoval. “I think we’re all asking, ‘Where’s that been?’ “ Bochy said.

September 14 in Los Angeles: Pence and Belt led the way as the Giants set a Dodger Stadium record with 19 runs. They had 22 hits while handing the Dodgers their worst home loss since 1947.

With Pagan back in the lineup and Belt and Pence clicking, the Giants finished third in the NL in September runs (121) and second in September OPS (.760).

20. One Last #RallyZito Moment: At the time it appeared that Bochy had made a mistake. In Zito’s final start, a meaningless game on Sept. 25, Bochy pulled the left-hander for a pinch-hitter and it looked like there would be no ovation or curtain call.

“There are not a lot of chances for closure in sports,” Zito said later that night. “There are never really goodbyes.”

In retrospect, I suppose we should have known better. Bochy has a way of pushing all the right buttons as the weather cools, and he did it again, giving Zito a moment that he’ll never forget. “I wanted to give him the great sendoff he deserves,” Bochy said.

Zito was right, there aren’t a lot of chances for closure in sports. But his seven-year run with the Giants wrapped up nicely.

“That was surreal,” Zito said. “I had more adrenaline than during the World Series. Having that way of going out as a Giant? Wow.”

21. Play of the Month(s): At the plate, you could pick Pence’s 476-foot blast at Coors Field, or maybe Sanchez’s three-run, game-winning homer in Washington. You could go with Jeff Francoeur’s arm (remember Frenchy?) or Posey’s hustle. Crawford and Gregor Blanco seemingly turn in a highlight a week, too.

But from my seat in the press box, I don’t think there was a better play over the final 56 games than Perez’s running catch at Dodger Stadium (bonus points for doing it against the Dodgers). Off the bat, Perez seemingly had no chance … none. But there he was, adding another highlight to a rookie season that was spectacular defensively.

23. The GIF of the Month(s): But since this is the last time he’ll be eligible as a Giant, it just feels like this should go to Andres Torres, a regular in the GIF of the Month category.

24. Looking Ahead: I just looked it up, “The Month That Was” for last September/October was posted on November 21. So I procrastinate just as much after 76-86 seasons as I do after championship runs, apparently. What were the Giants up to last November? They had just added Chris Heston to the 40-man roster, along with relative unknowns Nick Noonan, Juan Perez and Jake Dunning. Bochy was keeping tabs on his free agents and was hopeful they would be back. This fall, the Giants haven’t even hit free agency and they’ve already given out $125 million.

So what’s next? Another starting pitcher is a good starting point, and from what I’ve heard the front office is pretty flexible. The Giants will be in on free agents, but also are exploring trade options and remain intrigued by the international market. So there will be plenty of news, and we’ll cover it all here just as soon as the Red Sox and Cardinals decide which organization Plays the Game the Bestest Way.

Alex Pavlovic

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I like the tweet (by a follower) sfter BB9’s ring tweet to the Dodger fans giving him you-know-what…”got heem”.

Jcosey

Bring back baseball soon, please.

DrLefty

Thanks, Alex! That was great! Hope you have a great offseason…you deserve it.

South City Jim

Ditto.

408 svl

go through all with what ALEX said this year about the GIANTS. he pretty much summed it all up. i don’t have anything else to say other than he had summed it all up. GOOD VIBES, ALEX.

E-B

Thx Alex, wow, what a great read/watch. Will come back here in offseason just to re-read your summaries. You won rookie of the year, now you win sophomore of the year, in my book. Thx.

SurfCity

Thanks Alex — the blog comments were getting pretty inane and way past stale. Thanks for some new mateiral.

JStreet

Thanks as always, Alex for the new material. And thanks and shout out to all the board regulars. Enjoy the World Series, I had the good fortune to visit Fenway last year and it’s an exciting, vibrant place. No less so this year, I’m told..

Bapah

AP, Thank you for clearing up something I saw during Petit’s almosty. A terrific play was made and Keischnick stoically ignored him as he returned to the dugout. I mentioned it in comments after the game. I was wrong, it was this,
[(Roger) Kieschnick told me he didn’t move for six
innings. He wanted to go to the bathroom, but he wasn’t moving. When
there are no hits, you don’t mess with it. You try not to smile, blink …
you just play hard.” Pence, after Petit’s nearly perfect game.]

Thanks

Bapah

Can’t remember who the player was that didn’t get Keisch’s acknowledgement.

[It’s not that I don’t remember things, it’s just I can’t access them just when I would like to.]

ClutchUp

As many here before me mentioned. Thanks Alex. Especially since everything Foothills wrote on the other side was his own inimitable way of saying that almost everybody else does it better either on the field or in the GM’s office. Footy, I’m waiting for Youklis, Morneau and Byrd to join SF in 2014 and for your son Reymundo to NOT mistake you for a prowler one night coming back from a 5K run. :>/
Alex, this would have been the perfect spot to let us know how the infamous reunion went. As it is all we have to go on is Carmen Kiew’s underground descriptions of some classmates wearing lampshades on their ‘neked’ bodies.
Great, Great new Post/Thread, whatever the proper term is.

Bapah

BB9 is going to be someone to watch on the clubhouse comic side of this team. I wish someone could compile the list to-date of #Beltisms.

ClutchUp

Great call. When did they ALL start? Was it when he sat in Cains seat during the PG and Vogey gave him the stank-eye?

Maybe it goes all the way back to this day when his drawl was THICK and his skin tone was like Elmer’s Glue.

Bapah, I think Bochy inserted Perez into left field for Pill in the T6th and that inning Perez made a diving catch off the bat of the ARZ Pitcher Corbin.
Was that it?

ClutchUp

The Giants need a LFder named Reymundo Balentien (his middle name is Ramon)

2holehitting

OK I have to pull for my mid western bethrens the Cards. Having my dad take me Busch stadium when I was around 6 it looked magnificent and green (no astroturf). No game but they allowed us in to look at the stadium. Do the Giants do that? Just show ip and see if you can go in and view ATT?

My dad was a big cardinal fan from the days of Stan the Man before he converted to a Cub fan while raising us. Like father like Son, I was a HUGE Cub fan but since living in the Bay area and raising a son that is a Giants fan, I have become a Giant fan but they are not my team.

Go Cards!!!

ClutchUp

The Fall Classic begins tonight.

Bapah

You’re right. I thought it was Perez, but wasn’t sure. Thanks.

Bleacher Bob

Affeldt could be key. If he commits to Pencelike fitness, he is an important leader. I wish we had a better latin leader.

Bapah

A la Renteria, I suppose. Be my choice.

Bleacher Bob

Thank you Alex, for hosting this brilliant blog.

avwh

Stan the Man gave me my high school Scholar-Athlete award at some hotel in downtown STL (dinner/awards banquet sponsored by the Post-Dispatch, IIRC).

I first saw him play when I was 7 years old, I believe – which would have been about 4 years before he retired. The Cards made a serious run at the pennant his last season (1963), but a HR by a light-hitting LA rookie infielder late in the season dashed the Cardinals’ chances.

ClutchUp

Scutaro?

ClutchUp

* To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

South City Jim

Looking forward to some baseball. If these last three days of no baseball taught me anything it’s how much I’m going to miss it until pitchers and catchers report in February.

channelclemente

You’d think Pagan would assume the role, but folks from the Caribbean often don’t see eye to eye with those from South or Central America.

Cards played really tight tonight, especially Kozma and Freese. Hope they got it out of their system.

carmot

KIR: You mentioned earlier that the deal between MLB and the Japanese league has expired and no one at this time knows how the process will be going forward.

The deal between MLB and NPB has continually been on a one-year renewal
term, this year is no different. The idea is they likely won’t come to
agreement on changes in time to affect Tanaka. But by 2015 (maybe next
year) there almost certainly will be significant changes.

One issue I foresee is that Tanaka will be LATE to sign (around winter meetings), so other FA options will be signed by then. Who gambles that they can land him, and who has to find a solution earlier? This is a big deal for us & LAA IMO and not at all for LAD & NYY. Depends how quickly top FA arms like Burnett, Santana, Nolasco, and Garza sign/decide, I guess. And also what they command in AAV.

There are a lot of discussions about implementing an international draft (like the Rule 4 Draft), but it has already been decided it will NOT happen in 2014. By 2015, all sorts of changes could happen, like an int’l draft and maybe a posting fee cap. Nobody knows yet.

There’s lots of details I could share, but I’ll refrain unless some are interested. I’m trying to be as concise as possible (I’m sorry, I know many won’t believe this). I am starting to pay attention to Yusei Kikuchi again, I think there is a *very slight* possibility of him being posted this winter. But he’s recently had a shoulder injury, so I dunno. *If* he posts, which is a total long shot (I’ve not read anything suggesting this, at all)… Wow, he’d be an incredible get.

sandy koufax

You’re nuts if you think the Dodgers or Yankees are not thinking “Big Deal” pitcher…

Foothills Ryan

Too long of a layoff. They looked totally out of rhythm. Hope ‘my guy’ Beltran comes back. Otherwise, the jello will be jiggling soon.

carmot

I haven’t a clue how you read that from my post. I was stating the near-certainty of NYY winning Tanaka months ago. I don’t know if you read those posts, but I have detailed many of the reasons that is most likely to be. I actually think their “Plan-189” was founded (in mid-2012) on the premise of signing Tanaka.

And now, maybe LAD doesn’t care about how high the posting fee goes either. I furnished more info on here about Tanaka than everybody else combined. Including why NYY makes so much sense.

Foothills Ryan

Andrew Susac stays hot in Arizona: 2 for 3 with a BB.
Angel Villalona 1 for 4 with 3 Ks. Jarret Parker with 2 knocks in 4 trips to the plate. Scorpions win on Pirates SS prospect, Alen Hanson’s single. Susac’s BB started the rally in the bottom of the tenth. He was replaced by a pinch runner. 3 bags were swiped by one player on his watch (no disparagement intended). No Giants pitching prospects took the hill.

The Real KetchUp

This fall, the Giants haven’t even hit free agency and they’ve already given out $125 million.
———–
Would these guys have gotton more than 70 mil on the open market? Not likely. Well done Sabes. He will never learn. Can wait to see Andres Toress starting in opening day again.

The Real KetchUp

Which month was that game that Belt went 0-8 with 5K’s?

Anti-Lasorda

Juan Uribe is sure to be available

South City Jim

Good test going on. Dubs lead Kings 86-80 with six minutes to go.

carmot

Well, it wasn’t quite 9-2, but Boston is playing with momentum. We’ve all seen how much that can affect the playoffs. I’d actually expect 1 or 2 games of grinding now, I kinda thought Boston could have ONE blowout game (maybe two) in the series. Guess they got that out of the way, huh?

(Posted on Sunday) Boston seems like they’ve got that extra edge right now IMO. I won’t discount STL, they are fantastic in every way- especially if Craig can go. But BOS ‘seems’ like they also have more of the ability to post one blowout game, like 9-2.

carmot

Yup. I’m going tomorrow, so excited to experience Oracle for myself. I also hope Aldridge’s knee holds up so he plays, I want to see him. Go Dubs!

ClutchUp

Going backwards are we?

ClutchUp

“Torres” starting “on” …

South City Jim

Kinda wish we still had Mike Malone on our side.

The Real KetchUp

Thanks. Corrections have been made.

pacman68

Why does it take Dominic Brown to help turn Belt around? Isn’t that Bam Bam’s job? I’m not buying that Belt wasn’t receptive. I’m buying that Bam Bam stinks and it took an outsider to fix our first baseman.
FIRE BAM BAM!!!

The Oracle

Belt himself admitted he wasn’t receptive. Also, it was Bam Bam who came up with the idea of having Brown talk to Belt.

totalfan62

Definitely Scutaro. He’s Renteria 2.0 in that regard.

Mr. Sarcastic

Thanks for reminding us how smart you are!!

GSDUbs

It may not be the first time, but you heard it here:
Within the next 25 years when the NFL no longer exists as we know it today, there will still be baseball – the true national pastime. It will reclaim itself as America’s sport. There you go.

Keep’n It Real

My comments were straight from Bobby Evans’ mouth.

It was he that mentioned that the Giants were interested in Tanaka, but no one know how to proceed because the MLB/Japanese League deal expired and it’s being negotiated. They don’t know if it will be status quo or changed to prevent just the richest teams from benefiting.

I would assume…since its his job to know…that his words would precedence over anything out there on the web.

I’m not giving you a hard time, I just want to make sure you know I didn’t just pull this out of my “dodgerblue” area 😉

Keep’n It Real

*IF* the status quo continues for this year (highest posting fee wins), the amount of $$$ could be crazy. Bobby Evans mentioned “if any team has an extra $50M-$60M laying around”, so I would imagine if the Dodgers or Yankees really want him…the posting fee will be North of that.

Keep’n It Real

I agree, but he never hustled like that at AT&T in RF.

DrLefty

Facts are not “disparagement.” I was referring to, for example, your comment last week that Mejia would never make it to the majors after a couple bad outings in the AFL. He’s only 20 years old! And his latest outing was excellent.

Foothills Ryan

Indeed! One can never be too cautious though. He’s your guy! (mine is Escobar) 😉

Also, check the validity of comments about Mejia. Just maybe I was referring to the attrition rate of young prospects. Don’t plug him into the 2016 rotation or trade him for Carlos Beltran just yet.

It’s a long harrowing road from San Jose to AT&T (I know as the crow flies…)

Bapah

I’ve seen the replay a half dozen times. Two things, maybe three. It was a pretty easy catch, he was playing deep, didn’t have to run far and didn’t hit the wall nearly as hard as Torii. It was not far over the fence, not nearly as far as Torii’s. Not that remarkable, overall. Plus I wouldn’t put it past Beltran to use the play as an opportunity to get out of a game that was going to be a disaster to “save” himself.

channelclemente

Your mirror awaits you.

The Real KetchUp

Your coffin awaits you old man.

channelclemente

You need a lower colonic to give you some perspective.

channelclemente

A therapist can help,but a little personal honesty will help you eventually give up trolling. The mirror is a good first step. BTW, it awaits us all.

avwh

I thought the same thing.

It didn’t look like he hit the wall hard or at a high rate of speed – almost like he was upright moving slowly into it.

sandy koufax

Read your comment incorrectly, carmot. Simple to do during an ongoing WS party 🙂

Mr. Sarcastic

I think that there will be some tight games too. Or maybe some more blowouts. There ‘could’ be some games that aren’t really close, but not quite blowouts as well. Perhaps one or two of them. Maybe three.
I also predict that this series will go AT LEAST four games, but will go no longer than seven.

channelclemente

Pac is notorious immune to critique when he’s in the Red Queen mood.

DrLefty

The last I counted, the Giants had 9 young starter arms in A-A+-AA who could be legitimate prospects: Escobar, Blach, Blackburn, Crick, Mejia, Stratton, Agosta, Flores, and Gregorio. That’s not counting the 2013 draft crop, with whom I’m not familiar yet.

If 2 of those end up in the Giants’ rotation in a couple years and 2-3 more get traded for other things the Giants need, that would be very encouraging indeed. But it’s unrealistic to think all nine will make it to the show.

channelclemente

Where is Stratton is the cue? Didn’t he have an injury?

Jesse

Stratton is a bust in my book. Look at what level he is. Didn’t even dominate was just league average… Not good for a college pitcher, scouting reports had his fastball going backwards thru out the season which was supposed to be his plus pitch coming out of college. Look where Wacha is, 4 levels in front of him. The other guys are solid prospects.

channelclemente

Patience grasshopper, or someone will mistake you for Pacman in a Red Queen mood.

Foothills Ryan

On a roll. Welcome back Mr. Sardonic.

Foothills Ryan

Who?

Foothills Ryan

This sounds right. There are gray areas to resolve. It would be nice if he was free to choose from among at least 3 bidders. SF is closer to Japan than all parks save Seattle.

Foothills Ryan

Never miss a chance to slander The Great Carlos Beltran. He could hit your slide-piece with a blind fold on.

If he comes right out and shows what the green stuff is on his mitt…then I will believe it’s a non-issue. If they circle the wagons and nothing is said or physically explained, then I would say he did cheat.

Let’s say hypothetically he did cheat, why would anyone in their right mind…with all the cameras out there (TV and fans)…try to even attempt such a thing. This isn’t Gaylord’s era…

channelclemente

The Cardinals have been known to re-engineer a baseball’s surface. Why do they do it, why did they take steroids.

Keep’n It Real

I agree, but this would be using a colored substance on an international stage. Re-engineering baseballs and taking steroids is not something people do right on the field of play.

Foothills Ryan

Tim Lincecum, re-visited.

I’ve read the pieces from Grant Brisbee to Joel Sherman, coast to coast. I’ve read the transcripts from Bobby Evans. I’ve taken time to settle down and come to the conclusion that Alex’s state of zen is the proper space to occupy.

The cliche rings true: “it’s not your money, it’s not your baseball team, you’re just the fan”. And we are all fans of Tim Lincecum and the SF Giants !

Had Lincecum taken the the QO, he’d draw 14.1 million instead of 17 million. That’s a 3 mil overpay. Next year the QO is likely to increase to approximately 15 million. So next year would be about a 3 mil overpay as well. Two years of risk assumed counts for something, so perhaps the total overpay is 8 million or so. Considering Barry Zito is receiving 7 million to not have his option picked up, 8 million of perceived overpay is easily put into perspective.

The part that still hurts is that the Giants are now overpaying for pitchers. That wasn’t supposed to happen. Overpay for hitters because it is necessary. But that is supposed to be balanced by pitchers wanting to come to AT&T to thrive.

The bottom line is that 3 rotation spots needed filling and the farm does not have pitching that the Giants can depend on for significant innings. There is also trickle down from losing Zach Wheeler way back then. That thing won’t just go away. It is what it is, and so is this contract.

And Tim Lincecum is a Giant! And he’s a joy to watch.

And move over Scott Boras, Rick Thurman is the new pimp in town.

channelclemente

KIR, excessive concreteness is a psychiatric symptom.

Jesse

Well it’s no shock. Boston teams have always cheated. Patriots won their SB by videotaping the other teams practises and Boston won its previous WS with 2 drug cheats Ortiz and Manny

channelclemente

Man, that’s a wiiiide brush.

Keep’n It Real

…and my shrink is out of town.

Nate’sFanMom

This fan’s great moment: Sitting in the Toyata Seats at Petco Park and watching Timmy throw a no-hitter.

Nate’sFanMom

It may be too early to tell, but Susac is looking pretty legit.

Bochy talked about moving Buster to 3B. Susac’s development may make Posey a 3Bman sooner than later.

Stratton recently turned 24 (just a few weeks after Bumgarner did). Of the nine guys I named, he’s the oldest. I think Ty Blach is 23, and everyone else is between 20-22.

channelclemente

Now that you mention it, I remember your mentioning that earlier. I’m optimistic on Stratton, if his eyes/vision weren’t impacted by the head trauma. Wasn’t he out of Miss State or the like?

South City Jim

Wow you can clearly see him wipe his index finger and middle finger on the vaseline like substance in the corner of the glove before gripping the ball. Would be interesting to review the game tape to see if Ross was handing scuffed balls back to the ump or throwing them out of play.

channelclemente

I’d like to know if the Pitch F/x data shows anything unusual.

Foothills Ryan

wouldn’t be unusual if he does that all the time. why would he do something out of routine for the biggest game to date of year?

Foothills Ryan

Maybe next year they will be Lexus Seats and it will be a Perfecto.

South City Jim

Good point. If he was doing something one would assume he’s done it before for obvious reasons (i.e., command and not getting caught). Also, if he was doing something, it may have more to do with increasing the moisture on his fingers than doctoring the ball.

Foothills Ryan

Isn’t the answer ‘pine tar’? Which is ‘accepted’, particularly on cold nights.

channelclemente

Great little article on how the dissection of a ‘mystery pitc’ led to great insight on breaking balls. It may also explain what and why Lester did it last night.

Actually, it would be the perfect way to switch out the goo with this stuff in the Sox dugout they all use…frog grease I think it’s called, and it’s slightly green.

channelclemente

A little detective work, how would froglube be used to doctor a baseball. Hint..you need the info in the Hardball Times article to put the pieces together. BTW, Froglube is a grease, this is slick (pun intended).

Of course, the other point of view is that with the bases loaded and a 2-0 or 2-1 count he threw a fastball right down Broad Street and Freese fouled it back. In addition to the errors that was the difference in the ballgame. Napoli clobbered his cookie and Freese missed his.

channelclemente

now there must be a ‘cookie’ Monster in this tail.

ClutchUp

I hope the park maintainence people are allowed to fumigate after Kim K had her little proposal. That’s a real Ewww and Ick ….

It’s called Firm Grip according to one catcher who use to catch Lester :>)

ClutchUp

Did you get it all out?

ClutchUp

Called “Firm grip”

channelclemente

The stuff he was rumored to have used was Frog Lube, a natural degreaser that renders the surface of a baseball clean and slick, but doesn’t wipe of and is invisible to inspection. But it changes the friction on the surface such that it acts like it’s got a ‘grease’ on it. Hats off, I think it’s ingenious myself. You know my view of Wainwrights shenanigans with the cap, so it’s no wonder the Cardinals are saying nothing. Fear of ‘film at 11’.

Truth be told Lester said the substance was imported from Venezuela compliments of Sonia H.

stickman

Don’t know if the Sox will be hitting on such high notes tonight facing Wacha McCollum.

South City Jim

Yeah, good point…dumb question.

ClutchUp

OK I’m way catching up. Radio had a former teammate of Lester on and he mistakenly said Lester uses Firm Grip all the time. Thanks for the heads up.
Disqus makes me sea-sick trying to follow some topics. I wonder who in the Hell came up with the non-symmetrical way that paragraphs are stacked on top of one another….Maybe it was Woj/Chris or worse yet MLBSF aka jacobair…..

He now knows why only certain folks (Lopez) pitch to Ortiz. He eats fastballs or changeups for lunch if they aren’t in just the right spot.

The Oracle

David Ortiz’s career isn’t suspicious at all.

channelclemente

You don’t enjoy much do you.

channelclemente

A little dose of that ‘Cardinals way’. Opportunistic baseball.

BALDHEADSLIK1

how do u know

BALDHEADSLIK1

and how

channelclemente

Your mom told me, doofus.

The Real KetchUp

It is maintenance.

stickman

Wacha McCollum fulfilled my easy to make prediction entered just at gametime. Kid is good. He’s breaking in at a level reminiscent of a certain recently re-upped Giants starter. The Cards’ pen ain’t too sloppy either. Rosenthal is a nasty boy in cardinal carmine as against Cincy Crimson worn by the originals.

Foothills Ryan

Wacha-Martinez-Rosenthal…

Only words spoken by geysers are adequate to describe the big stage performances by these rookies.

Nevermind that Chris Stratton was chosen just one pick after Wacha. What do the 18 teams that picked before St. Louis have to say for themselves?

You saw a gymnastic ‘Pedro Martinez’ in the 7th and 8th. That comp works. He just needs the disappearing change-up and he will truly be Pedro-esque.

Rosenthal looked like a true macho man, lights out, closer. For lack of a better phrase, he is “Heath Hembree”-Plus.

That was great to watch. It’s a series now.

pacman68

Cardinals rookie fireballers are just freaking nasty. So jealous.

The Oracle

Ortiz was reported to have previously tested positive, then claimed he had no idea how that happened. His numbers dipped from ages 32-34, then he returned to top form from 35-37. That’s definitely the typical career arc.

dgg

I like what Mike Matheny had to say about Jon Lester and the rosin in his glove:

“If we started going down that path, it would just be trying to make excuses for a pitcher having a very good game against us and us not getting the job done. And that’s not the kind of team we are. So we see what happens, we make note of it and just keep playing.”

Sounds like something Bochy would say.

Foothills Ryan

Matheny is an outstanding manager of men.

Foothills Ryan

John Lackey certainly pitched well and he had a fine year returning from Tommy John. Remember him as a rookie in ’02. Don’t want to go there? That’s fine.

Lackey doing so well this year is incentive to invest in a pitcher like Josh Johnson. He had his elbow cleaned out and could be poised to have a very solid year, like Lackey.

I’d be willing to bet on solid returns from Johnson at AT&T.

Keep’n It Real

I’m right behind you on this one. The team also was saying positive things about his “stuff”, when he pitched against them at AT&T this oast season.

Keep’n It Real

I figured that is why they said nothing, when thw pictures/film was pretty conclusive. Funny…none of the “green stuff” was ever presented to the press to confirm it was what Boston was saying it was…

Jesse

Giants might be interested in McCann according to Jon Heyman. Am all in for this one. Sign McCann, move Posey to 1B and trade Belt to Seattle or Tampa for pitching, maybe Chris Archer or Taijuan Walker (Seattle probably won’t do it for a light hitting (pop) 1B) but Giants can try and see.

Bapah

Now we’ll see which is the best baseball team. Since the AL let’s a player play that can only hit, now we’ll see a game that requires every player to play offense AND defense.

Boston’s dilemma, isn’t a dilemma at all. It’s a deficiency that NOW will be exposed. Now they have to play REAL baseball. Why we allow half-baked, half-talented teams to even play baseball when every player doesn’t have to carry their own water is beyond me.

Ortiz or Napoli? Who cares? Play ball you AL babies. Now managers have to really manage.

Jesse

Since 2012 Lincecum has the 4th worst ERA in baseball. You know who the guy ahead is? $127m man. Thank goodness he’s gone

Jesse

Boston are usually very creative, if Napoli is close to 100% healthy I won’t be shock if he catches some innings

Bapah

Why would that article apply to us? Isn’t everyone here civil AND thoughtful?

“Multiple studies have also illustrated that when people don’t think they are going to be held immediately accountable for their words (anonymous postings) they are more likely to fall back on mental shortcuts in their thinking and writing, processing information less thoroughly. They become, as a result, more likely to resort to simplistic evaluations of complicated issues…”

Here?

Bapah

Nah.

Bapah

I think you mean play 1B.

Bapah

Beltran’s a chump.

WillieMaysField

The Rays will pick up a scrap heap first basemen. Unless the Giants want to include , Belt, Escobar and crick for price. As the premier catcher on the market McCann will get 5/75M.

avwh

No, Ortiz will play 1B, so for Napoli to play, he’d have to catch.

Bapah

Do you think that is something Boston would do? Seems like a big gamble to make since battery make-up has a lot to do with pitching success.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Boston and prefer that they win. It’s just that they’re in the AL. If the Cards win, then we’re on the spot and would have to win next year to keep the symmetry intact.

avwh

I don’t know. But I do think Farrell will use Ortiz over Napoli at 1B.

It is a gamble, to weaken D at TWO positions.

Jesse

There’s no thinking to do, it’s Ortiz at 1B, he is their best hitter and clutch too

Jesse

1B belongs to Papi. Napoli might catch some innings depending on the situation

Jesse

Yeah. Rays fans going nuts over Chris marrero whom the nationals just released

Foothills Ryan

That story makes little sense given the personnel the Giants have, the salary McCann will command, and what AT&T does for left handed power.

Foothills Ryan

Natitude adjustment: Matt Williams.

Bapah

1. Posey is NOT a 1B. He was a SS before becoming a catcher. He isn’t quick enough to play SS, so 3B will be where he goes, eventually.
2. Belt is not going anywhere, yet, if at all.
3. McCann wouldn’t likely come because Posey is going to catch next year. Plus he’s a chump. CarGo is a bigger one, admittedly. But that bush move blocking home plate, was instant character analysis. No way he wears SFG colors.

ClutchUp

Papi’s. At firstbase guaranteed.

Bapah

I have NO doubt, either. Napoli? That’s baseball. Only wish they’d played real baseball all year, instead of fauxball.

Bapah

Have you heard something? Or is this more Footy prognostication? Like to see Matty (or Wotus) keep FP company.

ClutchUp

Too many are using. Just legalize everything. It doesn’t make you hit better imo only recover quicker.

Bapah

Then let’s make it a real contact sport. Equal Opportunity CTE is my wish.

BTW the two “League of Denial” authors were in Petaluma @ Copperfield’s book store 2 nights ago.

Keep’n It Real

It was announced on mlbtraderumors.com

Bapah

Just read it, thanks.

Bapah

Is anyone else having problems with Disqus not “passively” keeping up with other comments?
I will find them if I reload, but then one can’t tell if a new reply to a comment was posted to an earlier comment.

It doesn’t happen all the time. Sometimes they pop right up. Other times it just sits there and when I scroll through I find, sometimes a half-dozen comments that weren’t shown by the “pop-ups” at top and bottom of scroll.

It seems as if those that write the code for these blogs never use them.

Not that the A’s are having any buyer’s remorse. Addison Russell, the 11th pick, seems like an absolute stud. As a 19 year in the Cal League, he had an OPS of .885 (% points higher than Mac Williamson’s).

The 2012 first round is filled a lot of top shelf talent. And hopefully Chris Stratton makes a comeback.

MLB scouts did a pretty good job with those first six picks in ’85.
BJ Surhoff – Will the Thrill – Bobby Witt – Barry Larkin –
Kurt Brown – BB25 (6th)

Foothills Ryan

nice!

ClutchUp

Well Anti-Lasorda still feels that on his way OUT that Uncle Bud should expand rosters to 26-27 so as to morph the DH’s back into the main rosters and have the Junior Circuit rejoin the Senior Circuit in playing real ball. Others say the DL is a slamerooski coming to the NL because they’ve allowed it in HS – College and MiLB.

watch Bucholtz next time–in the summertime, the shiny glistening greaseball stuff’s on his forearm, which he taps regularly. He claims it’s his ‘sunscreen lotion’.

but, in the wintertime, guess where it is? In that greaseball hair of his, which he taps regularly as well.

I believe he was questioned earlier this summer, but it seems he found a new way to greaseball his pitches w/out much protest.

E-B

any news on Lopie or Gaudin?

we need both for set-up and middle of BP.

avwh

This might make you feel old:

Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez & Trevor Rosenthal were all born in the 90s. Last night was the first time in World Series history that a team has won a game using three pitchers all under the age of 24. (Wacha 22; Martinez, 22; Rosenthal, 23)

avwh

Just more proof nobody reads what I write. 😉 🙁

Bapah

Smells mighty familiar.

channelclemente

That’s some juicy licks, my man. Makes you want to pick up your sword and find a bull.

Bapah

That’s not true. We love you here; we really love you here. Except you’re mainly for the birds.

Bapah

Speaking of which… Do you have any photos of the king of the roost at ATT? What was his name, Clutch?

Foothills Ryan

I’ve got two to choose from, one of which is hitching a ride next week. But I ain’t down with gore for gore’s sake.

Foothills Ryan

like teen spirit.

WillieMaysField

There not interested in Posey or Cain. To much green. That’s why they pasted on buster in 2008.

channelclemente

So if I’m driving through NE CA this weekend, I’m likely to see some wild man with a cape and sword doing battle with a bull, huh. Primal.

Foothills Ryan

maybe because discus was ‘sequestering’ your comment. people only read 10% of what I write, that’s why I increase my output tenfold.

Foothills Ryan

As your attorney, I advise you take more mescaline.

Foothills Ryan

Brett Pill for Carlos Martinez. BOOM!!

Thank you, goodnite.

Bapah

THAT’s not the reason we only read 10%.

Bapah

I have a question for the techno saavy here. Who uses all the white space to our right? Are they saving half of our screens for some use we’re not privy to? Seems like they could use it instead of stacking our posts in a 2 inch wide space. I hope these aren’t the same guys that figure out my cable bill.

I’ve had some average outings that, by my standards, were not very good, but luckily I’ve been throwing the ball lately. … I’ve played a lot this year and I’ve commanded my fastball. Last year, my changeup didn’t have much bite, but this year it’s been a lot better. I’ve also developed more of a true slider to give them a different look with the off-speed pitch. I started off the season throwing the ball well and I’ve had hiccups here and there, but I’ve had a pretty good year.

Being the workhorse is what I take pride in the most. That is one of the most rewarding things for me. I like to throw as many innings as I can. That keeps the bullpen fresh and helps win a lot of games for our team.

Two of the greatest qualities of life are…
Patience and Wisdom
<—————-

Foothills Ryan

Thanks Vegas. Where’d you find that? Can’t wait for his big league debut.

Vegas Giants Fan

The front page (I guess you’d call it that) of MiLB.com. Just scroll down the page to Notable Quotables. They’re featuring quotes from the top 100 prospects. They’re up to #’s 51-60.

The first paragraph came from the Notable Quotables feature. The second paragraph came from a link to an article that both paragraphs came from. I thought it was important to add the second paragraph because it gives more insight into the young man’s approach to baseball. IMO.

P.S. – The link takes you to a good story on Blackburn.

South City Jim

New post on Timmy boy.

carmot

Linden used to play on the Rakuten Eagles with Masahiro Tanaka. Now, John Bowker (LF, Yomiuri Giants) is getting set to face Tanaka in the Nippon Series.

Game 1 starts in 7 hours. Takahiro Norimoto (Eagles) will be the first rookie pitcher to start a game 1 of the Nippon Series in 61 years.

ClutchUp

Nice article by Stew!

Bapah

Pa

Vegas Giants Fan

youtube.com/watch?v=o_BLuN9oPA

BALDHEADSLIK1

didn’t mean to tick you off the other day CC, my bad! That was pretty funny when you called me a doofus though.

channelclemente

Oh, I wasn’t. But a persons duty to ‘rank’ in a thread like that is sacred. Somebody buried me in another one later.